Last season, defenses would often double-team Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton, having a cornerback cover him with a safety “cheating” over to Sutton’s side of the field to provide extra coverage over the top.
After adding Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler to the offense, Denver shouldn’t have to worry about Sutton facing double coverage too often in 2020.
“We have guys who can stretch the field vertically and that can take those safeties out of the boxes,” Sutton said on May 14. “You make everyone pay respect to everybody on the field. It kind of makes all the defenses play their defenses and their schemes the right way. You’re not going to be able to cheat to one side.”
Secondaries will have to give more respect to the Broncos’ passing attack in 2020, which should make life easier for Pro Bowl running backs Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay in the run game.
“You’re not going to be able to load the box for the run game,” Sutton said. “You’re not going to be able to shade safeties over the top of certain places. We have speed and talent in all of our positions in our room.”
Denver has put plenty of weapons around quarterback Drew Lock and there will be high expectations for the team’s offense to take a big jump this season. Less “cheating” from defenses could open things up for Sutton — and everyone on offense — to create some big plays this fall.
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